Question IV. What, how, and in what language, did the legates of the Gabaonites speak to the Israelites?

First. The legates of the Gabaonites joined false words to the false signs of things [deeds], narrating the length of their journey, and the growing-old and consumption of their [provisions] (vv. 6, 9, and 11). But to the false [things] they mixed certain true [things] about the victories of the Israelites (vv. 9 and 10); and they asked for a covenant (v. 6), where in the Hebrew, as also at v. 11, is “foedus inite” [enter into a covenant], or “strike [one] with us.” For “King of Hesebon” (v. 10) the 70 put “King of the Amorites,” and after “Astaroth” they add Ἐδραείμ [Edraeim]. But the cities were both trans-Jordanian, of which the former is called Astaroth Carnaim (Num. 32), the latter Edrai (Num. 21:33; Deut. 3:1; and chs. 31 and 10). “[A] very long way” the same legates hint by all [their] words and signs; yet here [there is] no superlative in the Hebrew and Greek (v. 11), but only [at] v. 13, as to the sense. Secondly. But the manner of speaking these [words] was a cunning, framed with manifold [craft], which should be most apt for persuading. First: Because before a pious ruler, and [one] most loving of God’s honor and glory, and before princely men of great piety, they say (v. 9) [that] they came “in the name of the Lord,” or “to his name” — concerning which below. Another [Secondly]: They relate the victories of the Israelites, ascribing them wholly to God himself (vv. 9 and 10). Third: They speak always most humbly of themselves, and most magnificently of the Israelites, calling them their “Lords.” Fourth: They are silent about the victories against Jericho and Ai. For since these were most recent, if they had made any mention of them, they would have seemed to have come not from a far country (as they wished to appear) — unless perhaps they had said [that] these [victories were] heard by them not [from] their own citizens and nobles, by whom they had been sent, but only [heard] by themselves, on the very journey, in the preceding days. But because they were performing an embassy, and speaking in the public name of their [people], they rightly kept silent about those most recent laurels of the Israelites, and did not touch upon them even under their own [private] name as [things] heard. And in this very [thing] there was still greater force and prudence. For if, [when] the [things] which had been done beyond the Jordan were [merely] heard, the Gabaonites were so moved and stirred to friendship and covenant with the Israelites — what would have happened, if they could have heard of the wondrous crossing of the Jordan, of the ruin of the walls of Jericho, [and] of the storming and burning of Ai? Thirdly [the third head — the language]: In what language the Gabaonites conversed with the Hebrews, Abulensis disputes (qq. 12 and 13); but it is to be answered as above (ch. 2, q. 25). For just as Rahab spoke with the spies, so these too [spoke] with Joshua and the other Israelites.